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Arlington County NewsroomSun, 20 Jan 2019 13:32:40 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.9Arlington’s Tourism Ambassador: Meet AED’s Robert “Mo” Rouse https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlingtons-tourism-ambassador-meet-aeds-robert-mo-rouse/
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 14:52:03 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=20005If in the past five years you’ve hit one of the County’s hot spots, stayed in a hotel, or attended a large-scale event, chances are you’ve been in the orbit of Robert “Mo” Rouse.

Maybe you’ve picked up the hottest tips on what to see in and around Arlington. Maybe you’ve come out of the Metro station in Arlington’s busiest neighborhoods and spied him from afar. Maybe you’ve perused a welcome bag at one of the County’s 45 hotels. Maybe you’ve simply spotted an Arlington landmark on the big screen.

In a single year, Mo provided tips and directions to more than 8,000 people at Arlington’s Mobile Visitors Center, served another 5,000+ visitors at special events, like the Marine Corps Marathon and Taste of Arlington, and handed out more than 300,000 StayArlington maps, Visitors Guides and other regional tourism materials.

He sat down with us to give us the behind-the-scenes view of his public-facing role.

Q: To get started, please describe your role with the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service.

A: My role is to work closely with the Visitor and Convention Services Manager, Monica Cannon, to ensure that we provide the best visitor experience to tourists that are planning a trip to the area. We also provide the best customer service experience to those visitors that I greet March through November at the Mobile Visitors Center. And then we also make sure that the 45 hotels that we have in Arlington are supplied with our marketing materials—that’s the visitor guide, the maps, brochures.

In addition to visitor services, I am the film office coordinator. I am basically the conduit for anyone wanting to film in Arlington County, be it a TV special or movie or a documentary, or just wanting to do something in one of the parks.

“That’s what we’re here for—to make sure that the general public has as much information about Arlington County as they can.”

Q: One of your main responsibilities is greeting visitors at the Mobile Visitors Center around the County. Walk us through that process and how you manage it.

A: We are in four neighborhoods, five days a week— Crystal City, Ballston, Rosslyn, Pentagon City, and then we circle back to Crystal City. I make sure that our Mobile Visitors Center is stocked, as though we were stocking a storefront. I make sure we have all the latest information. It’s a great job where I am interacting with the people on a daily basis; I’m meeting new people. A lot of people are really excited to see a Mobile Visitors Center in the neighborhood where they’re staying—when they’re coming out of the Metro and there I am. That’s a real plus for us to be able to be mobile and take our information to the public instead of the public having to find us.

That’s what we do; that’s what we’re here for—to make sure that the general public has as much information about Arlington County as they can. If you don’t know, and if I don’t provide you with enough information, I haven’t done my job.

Q: You have a very public-facing role with the Mobile Visitors Center, but what are some aspects of your job that the public might not see?

A: We are very heavily involved with conventions, family reunions, conferences, and things of that nature. Between myself and the Visitors Services Manager, we put together packages for these groups. One of the things that I take pride in doing is making sure that we have every possible brochure that is out there for the public. That is not only Arlington County. We work very closely with the Visitor Centers and the welcome centers in Virginia, from the north to the south.

Q: What is a typical work day like for you?

A: No two days are the same. During the season, it’s pretty set what we’re going to do, but within the season there are several events that we participate in with the Mobile Visitors Center from a marketing perspective. There’s the Rosslyn Jazz Fest, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival, Taste of Arlington, and the Marine Corps Marathon. [The MCM] culminates the season for us. We have the mobile visitors center there to answer any questions that people who have never been here before may have.

Q: How do you feel your work makes a difference in not only Arlington visitors, but also residents and businesses?

A: We work very closely with the businesses; we want to help businesses that have something we can market to the general public. A prime example would be the new Observation Deck. We worked closely with that organization to make sure that in every neighborhood I was in with the Mobile Visitors Center, I was promoting our newest attraction. And the neighborhoods love it because they understand that we are there for them as well as the tourists. Residents often have family or friends who come to the area and they look forward to seeing me so they can get the latest information. It really has become a great win-win for all of us involved.

Q: What excites you about the work you do for the ACVS and Arlington County?

A: I love people, and I enjoy making people happy. I’ll give you an example: We had a couple arrive in town just as I was closing the Mobile Visitors Center for the day, and they were not really sure where they were going. I stayed the additional two hours to assist them, made the necessary phone calls and got them connected to their destination. That’s what we do! From a customer service standpoint, we want to make sure we provide the best service we possibly can.

Q: What is your favorite thing about Arlington County?

A: Arlington is almost a hidden gem. Even people who live in Washington, DC, aren’t familiar with all the amenities we offer, from the shopping, the dining, the attractions. A lot of people assume that Arlington National Cemetery, Iwo Jima, the Pentagon, the 9/11 Memorial and the Air Force Memorial are part of Washington, DC. Because they see it in the movies and they just assume. But there’s so much here. It’s really a fun place to market. It makes my job easier.

]]>Arlington Wins GoGreen Virginia Award for 10th Year https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlington-wins-gogreen-virginia-award-for-10th-year/
Fri, 07 Dec 2018 17:22:50 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19767For the 10th year in a row, Arlington County has earned the GoGreen Virginia Award at the Platinum level from the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo).

This certification recognizes the County’s efforts to promote energy efficiency, green buildings, land use, stormwater management and more through policies and other actions. With the GoGreen Virginia Platinum certification, Arlington continues to set the pace for economic, environmental, and social sustainability.

Arlington is one of only two counties in the commonwealth that has received a GoGreen Virginia Award every year since it was established in 2009. The other is Albermarle County. In all, seven other counties besides Arlington received the award this year: Albemarle, Chesterfield, Henrico, Louisa, Montgomery, Prince George, and York.

The GoGreen Virginia Award program was designed to encourage implementation of specific environmental policies and practical actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save local governments money.

In addition to the GoGreen Virginia Award, Arlington County also recently earned awards from the Virginia Energy Efficiency Council and was recertified as a LEED Platinum Community by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Arlington Central Library won first place in the Government category of the Third Annual Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards. Electricity use at the facility in 2017 was less than half the amount used there in 2000, thanks to energy efficiency upgrades that were coordinated and funded by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy (AIRE) program and the Facilities Management Bureau, in partnership with Arlington Public Library.

Arlington Public Schools also won first place in the Academic category for Discovery Elementary, Arlington’s first net zero school.

For the LEED Platinum Community recertification, the AIRE Team updated the sustainability metrics data through the U.S. Green Building Council. In 2017, Arlington was the first community in the world to earn the Platinum LEED for Communities certification. To earn the certification, Arlington reports information on standard sustainability metrics, such as energy, water, solid waste/recycling, and transportation, as well as a variety of “human experience” metrics, including education, prosperity, employment, health and safety, crime, and social equity.

About Arlington Environmental Services

Arlington County is a nationally recognized leader in creating a sustainable and resilient urban environment. The County has long-proven success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, managing stormwater, fostering environmental stewardship, and promoting our residents’ health and well-being. Learn more at environment.arlingtonva.us.

]]>Arlington an LGBTQ “All-Star” for the Third Year in a Rowhttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/lgbtq-all-star-third-year-in-a-row/
Wed, 05 Dec 2018 19:47:33 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19601For the third year in a row, Arlington has received national recognition for its protections of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community members.

The County scored 92 out of 100 on the Municipal Equality Index (MEI), a rating system developed by the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest LGBTQ-rights group. And, because it scored at least an 85 despite being in a state without supportive state-level LGBTQ protections, the County also earned “all-star” recognition.

“Inclusion and diversity are core values for Arlington County,” Board Chair Katie Cristol said. “We hope this recognition signals the important role that LGBTQ community members and leaders play here, and Arlington’s ongoing commitment to being a welcoming place for all.”

A lot goes into the annual MEI score. HRC breaks it down into five categories: non-discrimination laws; benefits and protections for municipal employees; municipal services for the LGBTQ community; law enforcement; and leadership on LGBTQ equality.

Arlington received perfect scores in the last three categories, including for specific initiatives like having a dedicated Human Rights Commission and LGBTQ liaison, having an LGBTQ task force in its police department and taking a public pro-equality position.

The County also received full points for its laws barring discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation, and for providing LGBTQ protections and transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits for County employees.

Arlington picked up several bonus points, too — something HRC offers to help localities in states with restrictive state law. In Arlington’s case, Virginia lacks inclusive statewide LGBTQ protections, and the Dillon Rule prevents localities from acting on issues in which authority has not been explicitly granted by the General Assembly.

Arlington earned bonus points for offering specialized support services to LGBTQ youth, homeless individuals, elders and persons with HIV/AIDS, and for actively testing the limits of restrictive state law.

To help the County further align its policies and services with the MEI, Arlington’s Human Rights Commission established an Equality Task Force in late 2017.

Earlier this year, the task force established two new resources on the County website. One provides Arlingtonians with quick access to local, state and national LGBTQ resources. The other houses the task force’s progress reports and HRC-sponsored outreach events.

The Equality Task Force also recommended to the County Board three new or modified LGBTQ-inclusive policies or ordinances. Those policies and ordinances are currently being developed and reviewed before being considered for adoption.

]]>Arlington Will Honor These Four Human Rights Championshttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/james-b-hunter-human-rights-champions-2018/
Tue, 20 Nov 2018 17:13:11 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=19575Arlington has announced the winners of its annual James B. Hunter Human Rights Award, recognizing sustained commitment and outstanding accomplishment in promoting cultural diversity and equal rights for all residents.

The award, first given in 1999, is named for former County Board member James B. Hunter, who dedicated many years to helping under-served groups access government services designed to protect their rights.

This year’s winners include two individuals and two community groups. The County Board will honor the winners at a ceremony and reception on Thursday, Dec. 13 from 7-9 p.m., in the County Board Room at the Bozman Government Center (previously Courthouse Plaza).

“Each year, Arlington County honors and celebrates those in our community who champion the rights of underrepresented groups,” County Board Chair Katie Cristol said. “My colleagues and I are grateful to the Human Rights Commission for their efforts to identify and recognize these community leaders, who are working tirelessly to ensure that Arlington is safe and welcoming for everyone.”

About the 2018 James. B Hunter Award Winners

INDIVIDUAL
Marty Swaim, “Challenging Racism” Co-Founder

Marty Swaim, a social studies teacher at Arlington Public Schools from 1984 to 2001, is being recognized for co-founding “Challenging Racism: Learning How.” Marty developed the curriculum for the yearlong workshop series, which uses reading, stories, activities and conversations to encourage a basic understanding of racism, white privilege, the roots of racism and its more recent modern manifestations in our society. The program began as an APS initiative to inform faculty and staff about race and equity. It has grown to provide information to school and work groups, community organizations, and others whose members can benefit from a deeper and broader understanding of racism and its effect on our society.

INDIVIDUAL
Jay Fisette, Former County Board Member

Jay Fisette served on the Arlington County Board from 1997 to 2017 and was the first openly gay elected official in Arlington and in Virginia. Throughout his 20-year tenure on the County Board, he worked to advance human rights, and championed many other issues, among them environmental sustainability. Before he joined the Board in 1997, Fisette served as the director of the Whitman-Walker Clinic of Northern Virginia and was involved in the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance, which successfully advocated for the inclusion of sexual orientation protections in the County’s human rights ordinance.

COMMUNITY GROUP
Awesome Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) – Arlington Chapter

The Arlington Chapter of Awesome Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) holds monthly networking events for women who are small business owners in Arlington to share their experiences with one another. The group now has 150 members, ranging from artists and graphic designers to boutique and restaurant owners. In addition to supporting an underrepresented group in business ownership, Awesome Women Entrepreneurs is helping to increase the vibrancy of the local economy by supporting creative new commercial enterprise. The Arlington chapter was co-founded by Karen Bate and Evelyn Powers, both of whom live and work in Arlington.

COMMUNITY GROUP
Arm & Arm

Arm & Arm is an Arlington-based community group providing a variety of services to veterans and the incarcerated to aid in their reentry to society. Among the offered services are relapse-prevention workshops, grief and trauma support groups, resume-building and job-readiness, and more. These tools aim to help participants make rational evaluations of themselves, their situations, and their circumstances, and then make healthy and proactive decisions as they navigate their way back into society.

Note: This release has been updated to include both co-founders of the Arlington Chapter of Awesome Women Entrepreneurs (AWE).

]]>Meet the Guru of Summer Camp Registrationhttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/meet-the-gatekeeper-of-arlingtons-summer-camp-registration/
Wed, 01 Aug 2018 13:45:25 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=17990For one day each year, thousands of Arlington parents come together online. They’re poised in front of the keyboard, waiting for the clock to flip to 7 a.m.―and the Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) summer camp registration process to officially open. Then it’s a race to get their children registered for the camps they’ve had their eyes on or to shore up daytime activities for specific weeks during the summer.

This year, there were a record 5,039 registrations on that first day, with 2,980 of them coming within the first hour.

At the center of that multifaceted and highly valued process is Chemin Brown, DPR’s registration and administrative services support unit manager.

Chemin Brown

Having spent her entire professional life working in parks and recreation―beginning at 14 years old for her home community of Alexandria and for the past decade in Arlington County―Brown is passionate about the work that she does and the pivotal role camps and classes play in the lives of parents and children alike.

Brown was recently recognized with the ACES (Arlington County Employee Successes) Award for ensuring the first day of summer camp registration ran smoothly. She sat down to discuss her work and how she manages such a cornerstone of DPR’s programming.

Q: Share a little about your role in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

A: I oversee four administrative assistants and three registrars in the registration office. My goal is to make sure we have seamless registrations as parents come for summer camp registration and other programs and classes. I answer complaints and questions that we get from the public on issues they may have during registration.

Q: How do you manage the summer camp registration process and what are the challenges associated with it?

A: You must be very detail oriented. If you’re not, a lot of things fall by the wayside. I do a lot of checks and balances just to make sure the website is working correctly, making sure that staff can log into the call center on that first day. If there are issues, I report those to DTS. There’s a lot of checking in the WebTrac system to make sure that classes appear on the website and classes from previous sessions aren’t there.

When parents are upset because their child is waitlisted for a camp or a class, I try to give them other options as a backup, listening to their interests and making related suggestions. I’m a single parent myself so I know how the need for child care works. I’m able to sympathize with them, understand what they’re going through, and realize how important it is—the need to have activities for your children.

“When we have customers who call and need activities for their children, I find joy in helping them.”

Q: Walk us through your workday on the first day of camp registration.

A: I get here anywhere between 6:15 and 6:30. Usually, I stop off to get refreshments for staff because they’re waking up very early. I hand out folders that I prepare for all staff with the class or camp catalog, a problem log sheet in case they come across a customer who is having an issue, and any age exceptions or age overrides that we get from the programs. Then, I log into the call center to make sure that everyone who is helping us that morning is able to log in and assist with calls. I work with our camp programmer to make sure the call center is open so at 7 a.m. we can take those calls. Then it’s just nonstop. Once 7 a.m. hits, it’s on.

I get a lot of customers who want to speak to a manager on that day…they want something resolved right then. What I can resolve right then and there, I resolve but most others require documentation and research of the issue they are experiencing. I then let them know that it’s the first day of registration, and I’ll get back with them as soon as possible. It’s a lot of documenting—putting it into a spreadsheet so I can follow up and close that loop. The day goes from 6:15 to about 5:30. Sleep is a must the day before!

Q: How do you feel your work makes a difference in the lives of parents and children?

A: When we have customers who call and need activities for their children, I find joy in helping them. I understand having two little ones myself how important it is to have them involved in activities. Instead of just being at home, they want to be a part of something, in a class or in a facility, and enjoying the many programs that we offer. Arlington County is small, but even with all the promotion we do you’d be surprised how many people don’t know about all the programs we offer.

Q: What other programs and initiatives have your worked on for DPR in the past year?

A: I’ve been a part of DPR’s internal customer service committee, where we review different practices for external customers and our internal customers. I also worked with the DPR team and APAH [Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing] on getting people an easier way to apply for fee reductions―people who may not have known about them. We’re working to streamline that process and to make sure people in affordable housing communities can apply for a fee reduction and participate in classes as well.

Q: What is your favorite thing about Arlington County?

A: The people. For Arlington County to be so small, it’s a very diverse population and you meet people from all over, not just Virginia. You meet people from other countries, and sometimes, they’ll teach you things that you didn’t know. I had a conversation with a man who called to register for a class, and we had a conversation where he was telling me about the Civil War, and I learned a lot of things from him. I’ve had conversations with customers who have come to my office to talk about getting a fee reduction and then we’ve started talking about my plant and having a green thumb. The culture here in Arlington County is wonderful. You meet different people every day. No day is the same and I like that.

]]>Arlington Named Top Digital County for Third Straight Yearhttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/top-digital-county-third-straight-year/
Wed, 11 Jul 2018 17:05:38 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=17670

First county of its size to win the top spot three years in a row

Recognized for open government, planning, public engagement, cyber security, collaboration and operations

Support for public engagement and constituent services highlighted

Arlington County is the No. 1 digital county in the nation for a third straight year. The Center for Digital Government and National Association of Counties 2018 award recognizes Arlington for its best technology practices in areas of open government, transparency, public engagement, planning, cyber security and operations. Arlington received the award for counties in the 150,000-249,999 population category.

“It’s an honor for Arlington to be recognized on a national level for the innovative digital solutions and services we’re providing to our community,” said Arlington County Board Chair Katie Cristol. “Our staff is driven by the goal of using technology to foster an open government and enhance constituent services. This recognition from the Center for Digital Government and National Association of Counties is a result of their vision, commitment to excellence and long-term strategic planning, coupled with valuable input from our residents.”

Achievement in Open Government, Constituent Services

As this year’s winner, Arlington’s Department of Technology Services was recognized for its core functionality of ensuring secure, resilient and seamless technology operations 24 hours, 365 days a year. The award also focused on the County’s success in leveraging technology to support and enhance citizen-centric services and public engagement. Key achievements highlighted for Arlington in the program year:

The Open Government Program to increase transparency and access to information, including: establishing an Open Data Advisory Group; creating a Countywide data inventory; and sharing new data sets via the open data portal.

The new Digital Inclusion Initiative that aims to bring free broadband access to low- and moderate-income households in Arlington, including those with school-age children by leveraging the County’s own fiber optic network, ConnectArlington. Of note, the initiative’s demonstration project, which will bring free internet to over 150 children in the Arlington Mill Residences later this year.

The Defining Arlington’s Digital Destiny Campaign series of discussions to engage the public on the impact of the digital revolution on defined aspects of life and what it will mean for the future of living and working in Arlington.

Completion of the ConnectArlington fiber-optic network that provides a secure, reliable link between Arlington County Government facilities and Arlington Public Schools for a cost savings.

About the Digital Counties Survey Award

The Digital Counties Survey Award provides an annual measure of performance and innovation in using technology by taking an in-depth look at the programs and plans of counties across the nation. Arlington won the 2018 top ranking for its work in several areas on behalf of residents, Arlington businesses and institutions, and staff. These areas included: open government, strategic planning, public engagement, cyber security, collaboration, shared services, operations, staffing and resiliency. Also considered was how progress in these technology areas helped support the County’s overall priorities and goals for the year.

Arlington County will be presented with the award at the National Association of Counties’ conference on July 14 in Nashville, Tennessee.

]]>VIDEO: 2018 State of the Countyhttps://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/state-of-the-county-2018-video/
Fri, 29 Jun 2018 16:52:49 +0000https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/?post_type=news_release&p=17534Arlington County Board Chair Katie Cristol delivered the State of the County Address Thursday morning, at Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport. In her address, Cristol surveyed the County’s economic horizon, including positive trends in housing, transportation and economic development, and also discussed her main initiatives, which include affordable housing, child care accessibility, transportation, and the development of Lee Highway.

Watch the speech in its entirety:

“I feel deep conviction in reporting to you: The state of the County is strong. Because in Arlington, our potential is boundless.”

The speech was part of the State of the County & Public Safety Awards breakfast, an event is hosted annually by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. It is an opportunity for the Chamber honors public safety personnel and first responders from Arlington County’s Fire Department, Police Department, Public Safety Communications & Emergency Management, and Office of the Sheriff.

Adrienne Griffen is the founder and executive director of Postpartum Support Virginia (PSVa), which she started to fill a gap in services for women. When she experienced postpartum depression and anxiety in 2002, it took almost six months to find the help she needed. Since then, she has been providing information, outreach, and support to new mothers and healthcare providers.

“I kept thinking, it can’t be this hard, right?” Griffen said of her experience finding help. “If it’s this hard for me to find help, what about women who don’t know something’s wrong or don’t know where to go for help or can’t speak English or can’t advocate for themselves? So, I decided I needed to do something about it.”

Griffen has been named one of three Women of Vision for 2018 by the Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Women are selected from the government, business, and nonprofit communities for their commitment and leadership in Arlington. The honorees will be recognized during a ceremony on June 26.

PSVa offers support groups for new moms, facts about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), access to online and in-person resources, connections with volunteers who have experience with PMADs, and―perhaps most importantly―a community that tells women they are not alone.

The first support group started at Virginia Hospital Center, and there are now support groups across Northern Virginia and the commonwealth. Postpartum Support Virginia’s goal is to have a support group in every Virginia hospital that delivers babies. The organization has also created information and resource cards that it shares with healthcare providers and hospitals.

“The time has come that we address maternal mental health issues, postpartum depression, and helping new moms to really be the best that they can be,” Griffen said.

Sushmita Mazumdar is an artist, writer, educator, and founder of Studio Pause, a space where everyday people are invited to make time for creativity and celebrate community. For the past 10 years, her work has encouraged children, families, and seniors to share their stories of home, heritage, and migration through the fun and exciting book arts.

“Studio Pause is really very dear because it is a space I have wanted,” Mazumdar said. “I started writing stories from my life, my childhood, or stories of an immigrant mom, and then, because I’m an artist, I make them into handmade storybooks. And then I teach all of that.”

Mazumdar has been named one of three Women of Vision for 2018 by the Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Women are selected from the government, business, and nonprofit communities for their commitment and leadership in Arlington. The honorees will be recognized during a ceremony on June 26.

The studio offers WritingPAUSE and ArtPAUSE sessions, or community members can become a member. Studio Pause also offers receptions and CommunityPAUSE, which are free gatherings where anyone can share how they experience art, stories, or community.

“Now, there’s people who have never made art who’ve made art. There’s people who’ve never written who’ve written,” Mazumdar said.

Since the opening of Studio Pause, she has been inspired by the connections members and artists have made with each other, and the people who have been inspired to share their own art because of what they’ve seen in the studio. “The future is super exciting because I don’t know what it is, but it’s got to be awesome!”

Lauren Stienstra is the senior manager for research and policy in Arlington’s Department of Public Safety, Communications and Emergency Management, and she is the founder and program manager for HERricane Arlington, a summer camp and continuing education program designed to give high school-aged girls the knowledge, skills, and abilities to survive disasters and consider careers in emergency management and allied fields.

“I was reflecting on my own experiences, and I thought about what really inspired me to start getting into emergency management and disaster response—and I found myself really motivated by the summer camp experiences that I had in my youth,” Stienstra said. “I really set out to create a similar experience for women in Arlington County.”

For her work with HERricane Arlington, Stienstra has been named one of three Women of Vision for 2018 by the Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Women are selected from the government, business, and nonprofit communities for their commitment and leadership in Arlington. The honorees will be recognized during a ceremony on June 26.

The second year for HERricane Arlington kicks off next week, offering teenage girls hands-on, developmental training in incident management, natural hazards, public health, CPR certification, all-hazards preparedness, communications and public speaking, and leadership skills. It was recently named one of the top summer camps in Northern Virginia by Northern Virginia Magazine.

“We’ve also started to see this program catch in other areas,” Stienstra said. “I’ve been in consult with emergency managers across the nation to make sure that this program can reach communities from the east coast to the west coast to the south and really getting the message out about how to advance women, both in the profession, but also in their communities.”

Arlington County is publishing video interviews with all three Women of Vision honorees. Check the Newsroom for additional videos before the June 26 event.